Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a profound writer. His works go over some of the topics of philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism, devotional literature, and fiction. He led a somewhat uneventful life when he was young, as his prime "fun time" was going to the theatre. He was the 7th and youngest son of his father, Michael Pederson Kierkegaard. He broke of an engagement, which made the surrounding community of his home town "not so kind". When Kierkegaard grew old, he was extremely critical of society.
Biography
Kierkegaard was known for his despise of Hegel, Hegelianism, and Hegel's philosophy. He was also known as the "first Existentialist", and the "Father of Existentailism". Heiberg was responsible for bringing Hegelianism to Denmark, Kierkegaard's hometown. Kierkegaard spent a lot of his life's energy continually messing with the Heiberg literary cycle, but stopped once he found his own in his work The Concept of Irony. He ridiculed Heiberg, his methods, and Hegelianism, along with Hegel, because, as he had hatred for all speculative philosophy, and this is what Heiberg and Hegel lived for. He had six sibling, and was the youngest. Some people say that being the youngest, he was also the most emotional. He had great sympathy for the people around him and in his family, probably because being the youngest means that responsibility falls on you when everybody else is gone. Kierkegaards father's death was said to impact him deeply and that his philosophy is highly based on the occurence of this. Kierkegaard himself died at forty-two, shortly after having a fight over controversy at the Lutheran Church in Demark. Kierkegaard also used many pseudonyms for his writings.
Philosophy
Kierkegaard's philosophy was about how the precious thing of human life should be lived. He saw human life as a rare thing. In a major work of his Either/Or , Kierkegaard explains that man can live life two ways. He called these "existence spheres". One sphere he called aesthetic, and the second one was called ethical. Humans who lived in the aesthetic way sought out material luxuries and "romantic individualism". Kierkegaard thought that such material pleasures would become meaningless, and lives of humans who lived this way would become boring and uneventful. The ethical life are lived to a sense of duty and compromise. The duty of doing the right thing, and the compromise of some of the material luxuries that are in the "aesthetic" sphere. Kierkegaard came to a suggestion of a third sphere in religion. In this sphere, people accepted that they could "live in truth" and were individuals before their god. By living in this sphere, people could achieve full purpose of themselves and those around them who were living in the same "truth" or sphere. His philosophy was widely influenced in (and confined to) Scandinavia and German-speaking Europe, where his work had an impact on Protestant theology. After World War II, Existentialism was taken widely in the World, and became available in translation.
Unmentioned Major Works
Fear and Trembling - explores through the story of Abraham and the willing sacrifice of his son Isaac. In this text, Kierkegaard clearly reveals on his philosophical "leap of faith".
Philosophical Fragments- one of his most important, very concerned with the Christian revelation and its affect of appearing in history. On this writing, he used the pseudonym Johannes Climacus.
Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing- in this, Kierkegaard tries to rescue an individual from "massification" by making him stand before God. He does this because it calls for the abandonment of security and the building of a new faith-- to will one thing.
The Sickness Unto Death- causes Christians to think about everything earthly and worldly, including death and the relation to regular life.
Quotes Of Soren Kierkegaard
"A man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him, finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him."
"Be that self which one truly is."
"Don't forget to love yourself."
"It is so hard to believe because it is so hard to obey."
"Love is all, it gives all, and it takes all."
"Patience is necessary, and one cannot reap immediately where one has sown."
Introduction
Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) was a profound writer. His works go over some of the topics of philosophy, theology, psychology, literary criticism, devotional literature, and fiction. He led a somewhat uneventful life when he was young, as his prime "fun time" was going to the theatre. He was the 7th and youngest son of his father, Michael Pederson Kierkegaard. He broke of an engagement, which made the surrounding community of his home town "not so kind". When Kierkegaard grew old, he was extremely critical of society.
Biography
Kierkegaard was known for his despise of Hegel, Hegelianism, and Hegel's philosophy. He was also known as the "first Existentialist", and the "Father of Existentailism". Heiberg was responsible for bringing Hegelianism to Denmark, Kierkegaard's hometown. Kierkegaard spent a lot of his life's energy continually messing with the Heiberg literary cycle, but stopped once he found his own in his work The Concept of Irony. He ridiculed Heiberg, his methods, and Hegelianism, along with Hegel, because, as he had hatred for all speculative philosophy, and this is what Heiberg and Hegel lived for. He had six sibling, and was the youngest. Some people say that being the youngest, he was also the most emotional. He had great sympathy for the people around him and in his family, probably because being the youngest means that responsibility falls on you when everybody else is gone. Kierkegaards father's death was said to impact him deeply and that his philosophy is highly based on the occurence of this. Kierkegaard himself died at forty-two, shortly after having a fight over controversy at the Lutheran Church in Demark. Kierkegaard also used many pseudonyms for his writings.
Philosophy
Kierkegaard's philosophy was about how the precious thing of human life should be lived. He saw human life as a rare thing. In a major work of his Either/Or , Kierkegaard explains that man can live life two ways. He called these "existence spheres". One sphere he called aesthetic, and the second one was called ethical. Humans who lived in the aesthetic way sought out material luxuries and "romantic individualism". Kierkegaard thought that such material pleasures would become meaningless, and lives of humans who lived this way would become boring and uneventful. The ethical life are lived to a sense of duty and compromise. The duty of doing the right thing, and the compromise of some of the material luxuries that are in the "aesthetic" sphere. Kierkegaard came to a suggestion of a third sphere in religion. In this sphere, people accepted that they could "live in truth" and were individuals before their god. By living in this sphere, people could achieve full purpose of themselves and those around them who were living in the same "truth" or sphere. His philosophy was widely influenced in (and confined to) Scandinavia and German-speaking Europe, where his work had an impact on Protestant theology. After World War II, Existentialism was taken widely in the World, and became available in translation.
Unmentioned Major Works
Fear and Trembling - explores through the story of Abraham and the willing sacrifice of his son Isaac. In this text, Kierkegaard clearly reveals on his philosophical "leap of faith".
Philosophical Fragments- one of his most important, very concerned with the Christian revelation and its affect of appearing in history. On this writing, he used the pseudonym Johannes Climacus.
Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing- in this, Kierkegaard tries to rescue an individual from "massification" by making him stand before God. He does this because it calls for the abandonment of security and the building of a new faith-- to will one thing.
The Sickness Unto Death- causes Christians to think about everything earthly and worldly, including death and the relation to regular life.
Quotes Of Soren Kierkegaard
"A man who as a physical being is always turned toward the outside, thinking that his happiness lies outside him, finally turns inward and discovers that the source is within him."
"Be that self which one truly is."
"Don't forget to love yourself."
"It is so hard to believe because it is so hard to obey."
"Love is all, it gives all, and it takes all."
"Patience is necessary, and one cannot reap immediately where one has sown."
Bibliography